Monday August 29, 2016
Kabul (BNA) Afghanistan’s Human Rights Independent Commission (AHRIC) expressed concern over increasing violence cases against women while the Ministry of Women Affairs (MoWA) reported on decrease in the figures. Aziza Adalatkhwah, head of legal department of the MoWA said, ‘I do reject increasing violence cases against women, as in compare with last year, the figures has declined this year.’ The violence cases have not climbed, because the level of people awareness in the respect has been enhanced, she went on to say. Faryab, Jawzjan, Herat, Ghazni, Takhar, Ghor and Badakhshan are the provinces where the violence cases against women have been recorded, she added. To lessen violence against women in the country, the MoWA has many plans and it is hoped they are effective when implemented.
Meanwhile, a number of families told that if the government of Afghanistan doesn’t bring to justice the convicts, the rate of violence against women will likely boost in Afghanistan.
Nabila, a Kabul resident said, ‘there is no doubt that war and violence are the factors casing mental problems among the families.’ Likewise, the photos and videos on violence against women that are being broadcasted by some media are really shocking, Nabila further said. She also asked the government to sentence the convicts with severe punishment. Sharifa, another woman said, ‘implementation of rule of law and punishment of culprits are the only ways that can diminish rate of violence against women in the country.’ It is to be mentioned that, selling property of the women, underage and forced marriages, giving baad, etc. are the reasons behind family violence in the respect. In the same time, lack of awareness on Islamic issues, illiteracy, insecurity, not serious pursuing of the cases and non-implementation of law, particularly the law on violence against women are the factors behind increase in level of violence against women. Officials of AHRIC said, ‘recently, the violence cases against women have seriously changed to a matter of concern, adding the government should seriously chase the issue and punish the convicts.’
Rafiullah Bidar, spokesperson for the AHRIC said, ‘lack of rule of law implementation and distrust of the people to government are the main reasons behind growing violence against women.’ Bidar has not commented on exact figure of violence cases against women, but stressed that if the government doesn’t seriously step up, such cases will increase by each passing day. Murdering Raihana 18, in Ghor is the most recent case against women. Earlier to her, a woman had been shot dead by her husband in Herat. To prevent interfering powerful individuals in decision-makings of such cases and liberty of judicial organs on sentencing the convicts can be very effective, the AHRIC believes. This is while that despite several cases recorded against women this year, the ministry of women affairs reported the number of cases lower in compare with last year.
Shukria Kohistani